Embalmer&#39;s jowl holder



Nov, 27, 1951 A. E. WRIGHT 2,576,871

EMBALMERS JOWL HOLDER Filed Oct. 9, 1950 Q INVENTOR. 4? 405% f Mew/yr Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.576.871 EMBALMERS JOWL HOLDER Aubern E. Wright, N appanee, Ind. Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,090

of the various parts of the face of the deceased to as natural a position as possible to meet the desires of the members of the family of the deceased person.

One of the problems which embalmers encounter in preparing a body for burial is the positioning of the jowls. This is especially aproblem with fleshy people, such as those having double chins. The flesh normally hangs down when the person stands. Then when the body reclines at death, the weight of the jowls causes them to hang down but in a position not natural for normal lifetime appearance, and especially in a position directed toward the back of the head or alongside the sides of the neck and rearwardly of the neck. Consequently, the jowls, when so suspended, produce the appearance of an unnaturally thick neck. W I I Therefore it is the primary object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device by means of which the jowls may be held in a position substantially normal to lifetime appearance, duringthe embalming operation and until the body tissues set up and take shaperetaining form as a result of the action of embalming fluid. V

A further object is to provide a device of this character with means adapted to supply a steady inward pressure at the base of the jaws and toward the neck so as to position the flesh of the jowls in a natural appearance for anerect posture even though the body or corpse lies in a reclining position.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to apply a small "but steady pressure to hold the jowls in a normal position during the time required for reaction of embalming fluid upon the tissues, while at the same time avoiding the application of pressure in an amount and in a manner to cause pinching or distorting of the tissues because of the pressure.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, which is easy to apply and to use, and which is adjustable to accommodate difierences in size and shape and other properties of the head or face 'of the "body being embalmed.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. -1 isa perspective view of the device.

Fig. '2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the "preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates an embalmers headsupporting block of the character well known in the art. This'block may be formed of wood,

metal, plaster or any other suitable rigid material, and is characterized by end portions I2 which are substantially square and of the same size, anda reduced intermediate portion [4. The

block maybe so constructed that the intermediate portion i l is concave from end toend of the block, that is, is concavely'curved from one end portion I2 to the opposite end portion. The degree of concavity preferably varies at each of the four sides of the device. This block is of a size and proportion sufficient to receive and support the head of the corpse, and the difference in-concavity of the different surfaces of the reduced portion It accommodates different position's natural to different bodies.

My'new jowl holder is adapted to 'be mounted upon the black It] to be adjustable with respect thereto but to be held in a fixed position with reference to said head support it so that it cannot shift independently of the head block when the parts have once been adjusted. In other words, when the head of the corpse is positioned upon the head block and, thereafter, the jowl holder is adjusted upon that head block, then the parts of the device will assume and maintain a predetermined correlation as required for the particular body, and the danger 'of misplacement of the jowl holder with respect to the head block is avoided. The jowl holder is connected to the block I 0 by means of a rigid rod or bar It which is fixedly secured to and projects endwise from the block l0 preferably at the center of one end thereof and preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the block Ill. The jowl holder includes a carrier formed in part by a rigid elongatedbar [8 which mounts a clamp at one end. The clamp is preferably in the nature of a split sleeve having a pair of projecting flanges 22 positioned at opposite sides of the split and provided with aligned apertures to receive a screw 24 having a wing-type head 26 affording means to be grasped by the fingers of the user to manipulate the screw 24. The split sleeve preferably has a socket 28 extending perpendicularly therefrom and preferably formed integrally therewith. This socket 28 mounts the elongated bar l8 which is secured therein in any suitable manner, as by a screw-threaded connection, by the use of a set screw, or by the use of a bonding agent, such as welding material or metal solder.

The bar [6 is of substantial length compared to the length or axial dimension of the split sleeve of the clamp which holds the bar [8, so that when the sleeve is loosened the clamp may he slid lengthwise along the bar l6. The clamp therefore serves to accommodate two different adjustments, that is, the positioning of the bar l8 along the bar 16 to effect the lateral spacing of the bar [8 from the adjacent end If of the block I0, and also to effect the angular position of the bar 18 with respect to the surface upon which the block l8 rests.

The carrier also includes a cross-member in the nature of a rigid bar 30. This rigid bar is mounted fixedly in a socket portion 32 projecting from a clamp 34. The clamp 34 fits upon the bar I8 and is slidable on the bar l8 and also rotatable upon that bar when loose. The clamp 84 preferably is of the type having a continuous bore therethrough of a size to slidably and snugly fit upon the bar [8 and has a boss projecting therefrom in which is threaded a thumb screw 88. It will be understood, however, that, if desired, the clamp 34 may be of other constructions. Thus each of the clamps 22 and 34 may be of the same construction.

A clamp, here illustrated as of the split sleeve type, is .mounted. upon the cross-carrier member 38, said clamp having a longitudinally split sleeve 40 from which projects the flanges 42 at opposite sides of the split. The flanges 42 are apertured and screw-threaded to receive the screw 44, preferably in the nature of a thumb screw having a wing-type finger grip 46. A pair of spaced ears 48 project radially from the sleeve 46 in spaced parallel relation.

A rigid tongue or plate 50 fits snugly between the flanges 48, and the parts 50 and 48 are provided with registering apertures adapted to receive a pin 52 having a head 54 at one end thereof bearing against the outer face 'of one of the flanges 48. A threaded part of the pin 52 projects from the opposite flange 48 into a screwthreaded socket (not shown) formed in the head 56 of an elongated actuator having a shank 58 and a hand wheel 68. By this arrangement the plate 58 may be clamped between the flanges 48 to extend at any selected angular position with respect to the pin 52 while being held against free lateral play by the embracing action of the flanges 48. The plate 50 mounts upon its outer end a tubular portion 62 whose axis is substantially parallel to the axis of the securing pin 52 and of the carrier bar 36. A two-part cylindrical insert fits within the sleeve '62, said part 64 having a parting plane 66 extending diametrically of the bore of the tubular part 62. The two semi-circular parts 64 are grooved at 63 with the grooves extending from end to end through said parts. As best seen in Fig. 3, the ends of the groove 68 in one of the parts may be tapered or beveled at 16. The two semi-cylindrical parts 64 are held in place by headed sein opposite ends of said member so that only one head 14 is positioned at each end of the unit 62, 64. It will be understood, of course, that other means than the screws 12, 74 may be employed for the purpose of holding the semi-cylindrical inserts '64 within the sleeve 62 against endwise release or displacement. A curved or arched member 16, preferably formed of bar stock substantially rectangular in cross-section, fits within the notch 68 of one of the semi-cylindrical parts 64, here shown as the lower part. The dimensions of the parts I6 are such as to provide a snug but sliding fit so that the member 76 may be adjusted or slid endwise but is substantially restrained from rotative movement within the socket 68. Suitable clamp means are provided to lock the arching member 16 within the socket 68 in selected adjustment. Such means preferably consist of a pair of wedge members l8 inserted into the opposite ends of the socket 68 and interconnected by a shank 80 of an adjusting member. The shank 80 mounts a handle 82 at its outer end and has an enlarged circumferential shoulder or collar 84 formed thereon intermediate its ends. The portion 86 of the shank between the shoulder 84 and the free end of the shank 86 is preferably screw-threaded. The innermost of the two wedge members 18, that is the wedge member adjacent to the shoulder 84, preferably has a bore through which the shank 80 may pass With clearance. The wedge members 18 have substantially flat surfaces adapted to bear against the face of the member 16 while the opposed surfaces thereof are inclined or taper to correspond with the taper of the surfaces 16. It will be apparent, therefore, that by manipulation of the handle 82 to rotate the shank 88 in one direction, the wedge members '18 will be drawn together and forced against the member 16 by the wedging action at the tapered faces 10. The member 76 preferably is formed of metal having a certain resilience, and the action of the wedges therefore tends to flatten or straighten the member 16 and thereby effects a firm locking action between the parts. It will be understood that the arch member 76 may be associated with other types of clamps than that herein illustrated and that the illustration and description of clamp consisting of the pars 64-86 is intended to be illustrative and not limiting.

The arching member 16 will be substantially semi-circular or U-shaped and of a size to fit freely around the corpse head. At each end the arching member 16 is apertured to snugly and slidably receive rigid elongated shank members 90 which preferably have enlarged heads 92 at their outer ends. A plate formed of resilient or spring metal has one end portion 94 anchored to the arching member I6 in, spaced relation to the shank 90 by means of a securing member 96. The plate has an angularly extending offset 98 formed therein and terminates in a substantially flat portion Hill. The plate portion I00 has an aperture I02 therein of a size through which theshank 98 may slide when the plate portion I08 5 is in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shank 90 but having very small clearancearound said shank so that when the; angle of the plate I is displaced from theperpendicular with respect to the axis of the shank 90, a gripping action will occur between the plate aperture I02 and the shank 90. A coil spr ng I04 encircles the shank 90 and bears at its opposite ends against the arching member I6 and theplate portion I00 and tends normally to urge the plate portion I00 outwardly to a tilted position, causing a locking action between the shank 90 and the plate aperture I02. It will be apparent, therefore, that the longitudinal position of the shank with reference to the arching member I6 will be maintained at all times by the action of the parts I 00, I02 and I04, but that when it is desired to slide the shank 90 relative to the arching member 76, it is only necessary to press the free end of the plate I00 to an extent to position the same perpendicular to the shank 90 in order to release the parts for such sliding action.

A pair of jowl pads I00, which may be formed of wood, plastic or any other suitable material, are provided in the device, one thereof being mounted upon each of the free ends of the shank 90. The pad members I 06 preferably have an aperture I08 formed in one face or surface thereof, which receives a sleeve II 0 having a restricted dimension flange or ring I I2 at its outer end. The shank 90 has a reduced neck portion Il4 adjacent its end, and its free end terminates in an enlarged head H6, preferably of part-spherical contour and fitting snugly within the socket defined by the parts I08, H0, H2. Thus each pad I06 has a limited but universal movement upon the end of a shank 90.

In the use of the device the head is placed upon the member I0, and the various clamps 22, 34, 40, 48 and "I8 are manipulated as required by the size and shape of the head and the relation of the head to the block I0, for the purpose of positioning the pad members I06 to permit them to press inwardly at the base of the jaws and the neck, and in a manner to position the flesh in a natural appearance. Each of these clamp members is operated by a simple manipulating device so that the adjustment can be accomplished quickly and expeditiously, and the amount of pressure which is applied to each of the pad members can be regulated by the setting of that pad member. The pad members are preferably of generally elongated character and, by reason of their universal mounting, tend to seat naturally against the head so that they accommodate themselves to the contour of the face. The two members also are of sufiicient size to present a substantial area of contact with the surface of the skin of the face and to extend for the major part of length of the jaws. The skin-engaging surface of the pad members will preferably be slightly convex so that creasing, pinching, or any other action which would tend to present an unnatural appearance after the tissues are set, is avoided. It will be observed that each of the parts of this device is related to the head block in such a manner that the danger of accidental displacement of the parts is avoided. At the same time the device is adjustable in all particulars required to accommodate the shape, size and contour of any head.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without de artin from the spirit or the invention.

I claim: g

1. An embalmers j'owl holder comprising a support, a U-s'h'aped member adapted to fit freely around the head of a cor se. a pair of jowl-en gaging pads, adjustable means carried by and extending inwardly from the ends of said U- shaped member and each mounting one of said pads, and a rotatably adjustable clamp mounted on said support and adjustably mounting said U-shaped member.

2. An embalmers jowl holder comprising a support, a U-shaped member adapted to fit freely around the head of a corpse, a pair of jowlengaging pads, adjustable means carried by and extending inwardly from the ends of said U-shaped member and each mounting one of said pads, and a rotatably adjustable clamp mounted on said support and adjustably mounting said U-shaped member, said support including at least three angularly displaced parts and adjustable clamps connecting said parts whereby said pads may be adjusted along any of three substantially perpendicularly displaced axes relative to the head mounted on said support.

3. An embalmers jowl holder comprising a support, a U-shaped member adapted to fit freely around the head of a corpse, a pair of jowlengaging pads, adjustable means carried by and extending inwardly from the ends of said U-shaped member and each mounting one of said pads, and a rotatably adjustable clamp mounted on said support and adjustably mounting said U-shaped member, and swivel means connecting each pad to its adjustable supporting means.

4. An embalmers jowl holder comprising a support, a U-shaped member adapted to fit freely around the head, a pair of jowl-engaging pads, adjustable means carried by and extending inwardly from the ends of said U-shaped member and each mounting one of said pads, and a rotatably adjustable clamp mounted on said support and adjustably mounting said U-shaped member, each pad-mounting means including an elongated member slidably carried by said U-shaped member and a spring pressed clamp carried by said U-shaped member and gripping said elongated member.

5. An embalmers jowl holder comprising a support, a U-shaped member adapted to fit freely around the head of a corpse, a pair of jowlengaging pads, adjustable means carried by and extending inwardly from the ends of said 55 U-shaped member and each mounting one of said pads, and a rotatably adjustable clamp mounted on said support and adjustably mounting said U-shaped member, said rotatably adjustable clamp accommodating both endwise and rotative 60 adjustment of said U-shaped member relative to said support.

6. An embalmers jowl holder comprising a support, a U-shaped member adapted to fit freely around the head of a corpse, a pair of jowl-en- 65 gaging pads, adjustable means carried by and extending inwardly from the ends of said U-shaped member and each mounting one of said pads, a

rotatably adjustable clamp mounted on said support and adjustably mounting said U-shaped 70 member, said rotatably adjustable clamp including a substantially tubular housing portion, a

multi-part cylindrical member mounted in said housing portion and having a longitudinal passage therethrough interrupting the parting faces 75 of the parts of said cylindrical member, said 7 U shaped member extending through said pas- REFERENCES CITED sage and wedge means adlustable in Sam The following references are of record in the sage and pressing upon said U-shaped member file of this patent: and cylindrical member to simultaneously fric- UNITED STATES PATENTS tionally engage the parts of said cylindrical 5 members in said housing portion and frictional- Number Name Date 1y engage said U-shaped member in said cy- 402,095 Moharter Apr. 23, 1889 lindricai member. 1,729,525 Stenshoel Sept. 24, 1929 1,973,240 Werness et a1 Sept. 11, 1934 AUBERN E. WRIGHT. 10 2,210,113 Davis Aug. 6, 1940 

